Greek seafaring shipping
The seafaring shipping of the Greeks has emerged as one of the main pillars of the Greek economy, which has always supported economic growth. Shipping activities underline the national presence in all lengths and breadths of the world, strengthen Greece’s relations with other shipping countries and strengthen the territorial and social cohesion of our country and the EU. in its entirety.
These characteristics in combination with its geophysical configuration have contributed to the intense activity of the Greeks at sea and to the emergence of the shipping sector as one of the most dynamic in the Greek economy, contributing 9% to the Gross National Product (GDP).
Greece remains to this day the leading shipping power in the world, controlling about 20% of the total maritime trade in the world, confirming in the best possible way that seamanship is in the DNA of the Greeks, keeping a tradition of centuries lost in its depths. history.
Greek shipowners own over 20% of the world tonnage and over 60% of the tonnage of the European Union.
According to the latest annual report of the Union of Greek shipowners (UGS) , Greek shipowners control 30.2% of the global tanker fleet, 14.9% of the global fleet transporting chemicals and petroleum products, and 36.3% of the global LPG & LNG fleet., 25,2% of the global bulk cargo fleet, and 8.6 % of the global container fleet.
Greece is included in the top five shipping countries in the world. The other four are Japan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong, which account for more than 50% of world capacity. In recent years, Germany, Japan and the Republic of Korea have lost ground, while Greece, Singapore, China and Hong Kong have increased their fleet sizes.
Greek ship owners currently have 384 ships on order, corresponding to 34 million dwt., attesting to the Greek shipping sector being the frontrunner also in fleet renewal.
Greek shipowners have invested heavily in new and energy efficient ships, with the average age of the Greek-owned fleet (13,7 years) being lower than the average age of the global fleet (18,2 years). The Greek register numbers 598 ships (over 1,000 gt), with a tonnage of 33.41 million gt.
The fleet under the Greek flag is ranked 8th internationally and 2nd in the European Union.
Piraeus, as the largest port in the country, is the geographical core of Greek and Greek-owned shipping where the activities of shipping companies and directly related sectors of the economy are developed. In combination with the well-trained human resources that serve these sectors, a single and strong mechanism for the development of financial synergies is created, which composes the Greek maritime network (maritimecluster).
In Greece there are more than 1.660 established shipping companies in the country of no. 25 law 27/75 and more than 3,700 shipping companies of law 959/79, which provide direct employment to approximately 20,800 employees, making Piraeus a world-class shipping center and a base of know-how in the technical and commercial management of ships.
The activities that take place in Piraeus extend, at the same time, to financial / banking services, legal services, marine insurance, shipbuilding and shipbuilding repair works, towing and maritime assistance works, shipping agencies, refueling equipment, shipping, etc. Some of the most well-known financial institutions as well as prominent Mutual Insurance Organizations (P & I Clubs), have established their subsidiaries in Piraeus, thus providing important financial services to shipping companies. One hundred and ninety two thousand (192,000) people are directly or indirectly employed in maritime activities, contributing dynamically to the economic development of our country and the employment of the national workforce.